(CANADA) Canada’s parent and grandparent sponsorship (PGP) is closed to new applications for all of 2026, but earlier files keep moving through IRCC. For families, the Super Visa is the main way to bring parents or grandparents for repeated stays while they wait for any future PGP intake.
2026 landscape: pause in PGP intake, processing continues
ircc has confirmed it won’t accept any new parent and grandparent Sponsorship (PGP) applications in 2026. That pause is about intake, not about decisions on files already submitted, so families with older cases should still watch their accounts.
the most recent selection round happened in 2025, when IRCC invited 17,860 potential sponsors between July 28, 2025 and October 9, 2025, and accepted 10,000 complete applications. Those numbers matter because they show how capped and competitive the program is, even when it is open.
VisaVerge.com reports families are treating the Super Visa as a bridge in 2026, while keeping tax records and civil documents current for any later PGP intake.
Super Visa in 2026: what it gives you, and what it doesn’t
The Super Visa is a temporary resident document for parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian. It lets eligible parents and grandparents visit for long periods, but it is not permanent residence and does not create a direct path to PR.
Under current policy, a Super Visa holder can be admitted for up to 5 years per entry. The visa is typically issued as a multiple-entry document with validity of up to 10 years, limited by passport validity and border officer discretion.
Entry still happens one trip at a time. A Canada Border Services Agency officer can ask about the purpose of the visit, funds, and insurance, then set conditions in the passport or entry record.
Eligibility in 2026: a two-part test that must match on paper
Think of eligibility as two linked checks: the host in Canada and the parent or grandparent applying from abroad. Most refusals happen when the story makes sense emotionally, but the documents don’t line up with IRCC’s requirements.
For the host (child or grandchild), IRCC expects:
- Status and residence in Canada: citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian, age 18 or older, and living in Canada.
- A detailed invitation letter: it should promise financial support for the whole stay and list everyone counted in family size, with names and dates of birth.
- Income proof: CRA-based records such as a Notice of Assessment, and supporting employment evidence, so the officer can confirm the host meets the minimum necessary income for the family size.
For the applicant parent or grandparent, IRCC focuses on:
- Applying from outside Canada and staying outside until the visa is issued.
- Admissibility, including criminality and security checks, plus an immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician.
- Biometrics where required, and a qualifying health insurance plan that meets Super Visa rules.
- Temporary intent shown through ties back home and a visit plan that fits the family’s situation.
Temporary intent is the hardest idea for many families. You are asking for a long stay, yet you must still persuade the officer you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay. Strong evidence includes ongoing work, caregiving duties, property, or close family members at home.
Insurance in 2026: the make-or-break document at approval and at the airport
For Super Visa cases, private medical insurance is not a side detail. Officers check it closely because it is the tool that protects families from large medical bills and protects Canada’s public system from unexpected costs.
IRCC requires coverage that meets Super Visa criteria, issued by an eligible insurer in Canada. The policy must provide at least CAD $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and be valid for at least 1 year (365 days) from the planned entry date.
Proof of payment matters as much as the policy wording. IRCC does not accept insurance quotes, and officers expect to see that the coverage is paid, either in full or through a documented installment plan with a deposit.
At the border, be ready to show an insurance certificate that clearly lists coverage, dates, and what is included, such as health care, hospitalization, and repatriation. If you plan to stay past the policy end date, renew before it expires and keep the renewal proof.
Income rules in 2026: meeting the MNI/LICO test without miscounting family size
The Canadian host must meet the minimum necessary income (MNI), based on LICO, for the family size used in the Super Visa application. IRCC updates the table annually and links it from the Super Visa instructions, so check the exact 2026 amount right before you apply.
Family size calculations trip people up. Count the host, the host’s spouse or partner, dependent children, and every parent or grandparent the household is inviting. If the invitation letter lists one number but the income proof supports another, the officer will doubt the whole file.
Use CRA-issued records as your anchor documents, especially the Notice of Assessment, because officers trust tax records more than informal pay statements. When income is close to the threshold, timing matters, and clear explanations matter even more.
Budgeting for 2026: separating IRCC fees from the expenses families control
Super Visa costs come in two buckets: government fees and the real-world expenses needed to make the application approvable. Fees change, so confirm current amounts on IRCC’s fee pages at the time you pay.
Plan for these predictable items:
- Insurance premiums for the required one-year policy often take the largest share of the budget.
- Immigration medical exam fees are paid to an IRCC panel physician, and prices vary by clinic and country.
- Translations and certified copies can add up fast, especially where civil documents need sworn translation.
Paid representatives are optional. They are most helpful when there are prior refusals, complex travel histories, or medical and admissibility issues that need careful explanation without overloading the file.
Processing times in 2026: pacing the file so biometrics and medicals don’t stall it
IRCC posts Super Visa instructions and the income table on its official page, and it also publishes estimated wait times through its processing-time tool; start with the IRCC Super Visa page.
Processing time usually starts when IRCC receives a complete application and includes the time it takes to give biometrics. If medical exam results arrive late, or IRCC has to ask for missing documents, the calendar stretches quickly.
Recent 2025–2026 guidance points to about 8–12 weeks for many complete Super Visa files. Some cases take up to 6 months or more, driven by visa office workload, background checks, and medical review time.
A practical timeline often looks like this after the medical exam is booked: physicians submit results in 1–4 weeks, IRCC review and any follow-ups can take 2–8 weeks, and finalization often takes another 1–4 weeks once everything is met.
Checking the processing-time tool right before submission helps you plan travel and insurance start dates. Repeated webform inquiries rarely speed anything up, and they can add stress when the best move is simply waiting for the next update.
A four-step Super Visa journey in 2026, from planning to boarding
Most families do better when they treat the Super Visa like a project with a start date, a document checklist, and a buffer for medical and biometrics appointments.
- Confirm the host package (1–2 weeks): draft the invitation letter, calculate family size, and pull CRA income records that match the figures in the letter.
- Lock in insurance and medical planning (2–4 weeks): buy the required policy, keep payment proof, and book the panel physician exam so results can move through the system.
- Submit the application and biometrics (same day to several weeks): file a complete application from outside Canada, then give biometrics as soon as the instruction letter arrives.
- Prepare for entry (ongoing): travel with the invitation letter, insurance certificate, and proof of ties back home, because the border officer decides the length and conditions of each stay.
Choosing a 2026 plan while PGP stays closed
With Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP) paused, families generally choose between three paths, and each has a different risk profile and paperwork burden. The best choice depends on how long the parent needs to stay and how strong the host’s income and insurance plan are.
- Super Visa: best for long stays and fewer border trips, but it still requires strong home-country ties and careful insurance compliance.
- Regular visitor visa: lighter documentation for many applicants, and it often suits short family events, but stays are typically up to six months per entry.
- Monitoring for a future PGP intake: keep tax filings, civil documents, and passports current, so you can act fast if IRCC reopens a capped round after 2026.
Even during the PGP pause, a well-prepared Super Visa file helps families travel with less fear. Keep the invitation letter, insurance proof, and recent host income documents updated, because officers may ask for them at the border years after issuance.
While the PGP sponsorship program is closed to new applicants in 2026, the Super Visa remains a viable long-term visitor option. This visa allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadians to stay for up to five years at a time. Success depends on meeting financial thresholds, providing proof of valid Canadian medical insurance, and demonstrating temporary intent despite the extended length of the stay permitted.
